Everybody has a name. It’s an identity of an Individual in
this big world. There is a story behind how we got our name? There is a story
behind how we carry our name. Did our parents search lot of books for our name?
Why did they like that name for us? Did somebody suggest our name? We have
nickname as well. The real name has several versions as in my case. Sometimes I
feel how unfair Shakespeare is to say “What’s there in name?”. It is an identity
we relate to our self and every body else relate to us. One realises what is
there in name when one’s name is repetitively pronounced wrongly, like mine.
My
name is Indrayani. Many people told me my name is unique, long and difficult
to pronounce and spell. I was the only girl named “Indrayani” in my School and
college. So I enjoyed a privilege of being unique in that sense and felt proud
as unique name helped me escape the mess created by similar name like swapping
of exam papers, roll numbers etc. My teachers and friends used to call me “Indu”
or “Indumati” which I hate. Yes! These are the two absolute no no versions of
my name. In my Pune office non maharastrian people for whom my name was new used to call me “Indrani”, some of them actually thought the meaning of my
name is “Wife of Lord Indra” and began to call me “Indra ki Rani”. But that is not the meaning of my name. Again I had to clarify and clear
the air. I was never linked with any boy in my entire college life
and now I am being linked to King of Gods – Lord Indra. Ohh! Poor me. My Bengali
colleagues called me “Indro”. Every time
I made it a point to correct them but all efforts went in vein. When I joined office in
Dubai, the things went worst for my name. Many versions of my name were waiting
to greet me. Local colleagues called me “Indrayana” or “Indriyani”. I had colleagues
from Africa, UK, US, Shrilanka, Pakistan, etc. Most of them actually found my
name as a toung twister so they chose a name “Indra” for me. I had to agree happily (?).
Rather than hearing many wrong pronunciation this was better. But all my family
members call me “Indrayani” without a single mistake. Even after I got married,
thankfully new family members learned my name easily and pronounce it correctly.
The meaning of Indrayani is “A woman having command on languages”. I am not
sure if I am living up to that but as I am writing this article on the usual drama
and confusion on my name, I feel extremely proud to have a name that’s unique, meaningful
and long. Thanks a ton Aai and Baba for giving me this name. And Thanks to Aaji
for suggesting it.
Excessive clutter in every facet of our life leads to stress. If you are surrounded by clutter in your life you are unknowingly inviting the chaos. By devoting a little of your time to getting rid of the clutter in your life and maintaining things relatively clutter-free , you’ll reap the rewards of pleasing living areas, reduced stress, and a more organized and productive existence. The best way to start by taking small steps to declutter your work place, home, car and everything in and around you. The combined small steps will lead to big improvements in long run.
Declutter your work place
Take out all the stuff from the drawer of office desk. and put bavk only what you use and required. Throw away unwanted printouts, papers etc. When papers come sort them immedietly, toss, delegate or simple file but do not put them on your desk. Set up a basic alphabetical filing system with a folder for each project or client. Keep your office supplies and other items in designated drawers. If you need to, label things, but the main thing you should do is designate a spot for every item you decided to keep and make sure that it stays there, or goes back there when you’re done using it.
Declutter your Computer
Go thru all the folders you have, if there are some folders you are no more using delete them if there are pictures take them on CD or hard disk and keep safely or upload on picasa but delete from computer. Unwanted documents, delete them. Get rid of most or all of the icons on your desktop. They not only slow down your computer, but they also create visual clutter. There are better ways of accessing your information.
Your Home
After work place, home is the place where we spend most of our time where we host guests, parties and relax. No wonder messy home also adds to daily stress.
Your Room:
Start with whatever lies on floor, Pick everything and keep neatly. Take your old newspapers ans magazines and either sell them to raddiwala or donate to library. Arrange your bed properly. Spread the bedsheets nicely. Clean your show pieces, wall hangers and furniture. Donate what is not required or not used. Organize everything that you’ve decided to keep into drawers, cabinets, and closets, keeping them out of sight, but still neatly organized and uncluttered. Do this one room at a time.
Manage your wardrobe:
For many people wardrobe is a place where they throwaway the things they want to keep out of there sight. Organize everything that you’ve decided to keep into drawers, cabinets, and closets, keeping them out of sight, but still neatly organized and uncluttered. Do this one room at a time.
Your Life:
Reduce your commitments: We don't realize when our life becomes too clutter with all the things we do with our home, office, friends, family, social gathering and so on. Take it easy! Don't expect too much from yourself. you don't have to work hard in the office and then again have an eventful night with friends. Look at the each area of your Life and consider what brings you joy and value. Anything that doesn't make you happy and doesn't add value, reduce those commitments. If you do this you will have more time to do things you love. Don't gather too much information that is also a clutter occupying your mind. Don't spend too much time on anything doesn't interest you. Spend time to revisit your financial portfolio. Make a list of FD's in which bank they are and when are they expiring. If possible reduce the number of accounts you have. See if you have reset your Internet and mobile banking password and you remember them. Make sure all your documents like Mark sheet, company joining and relieving letters, salary slip etc are well organized and safely kept.
Manage your routine :
Many of us do not have set routines in our daily life and simply tackle the daily work responsibilities, chores, exercise haphazardly. This unstructured way of life style adds to stress and unproductivity. Batch your work. Instead of doing the laundry everyday do it once a week. Instead of going to glossary shop frequently make it a habit to do it once a week. Plan your weekly and daily schedules.If you cook daily, try to clean dry and cut the vegetable one day so that they will be readily available on time, clean furniture, windows etc once a week. Keep your accessories like earrings, goggles, bags, shoes clean and in structured way so that they should be handy when required.
Once you’ve successfully decluttered, whether it be one area or all the areas mentioned above, clutter will inevitably begin to creep back into your life. You must be vigilant in weeding it out on a regular basis, or it will just take over your life again. So make it a habit so declutter daily and include this in your daily routine.
If you try this, let me know if it made any difference to you.
Today, I asked my colleague to get me the iPad which he has borrowed from me for his project some days back. He handed over the iPad to me, I noticed iPad was dusty so I requested him to clean it. While he was cleaning one of my colleague(a lady) who belongs to ME was listening to our conversation, she interrupted saying "How can you ask him to clean that? You have to clean it!". Surprisingly I asked her "Why?". She replied "Because you are a woman. Men should not do cleaning and all. That is women's job". I was shocked to hear this. I have never came across such situation in my life earlier. In my family all males including my father, brother, husband and brother in law get actively involved in household chores. Why only my family? I know in India guys are helping their wife, mother or sister in daily chores. And even if people here are used to have women doing all the cleaning at home. Do we need to drag this attitude to office? I tried my best to convince her that what she thinks is not the way to look at ourselves. But all efforts were in vein. This strange but sadly true.
After SC verdict, Will the Dance bars in Mumbai be reopened? I was surprised to see a news on one of the Indian news channel showing how the life
of bar dancers has turned miserable after the dance bars are closed.
There were some 10-15 bar dancers grieving as there bars are closed and they are
not employed yet. Also they are only bread winner in there family.
But really in 8 long years these ladies are jobless and nothing good has
happened them. Why didn't they ask for government or NGO’s help to get
other job. Are these ladies used to the easy money of dance bars. Are
they used to lavish and luxurious lifestyle out of the money from dance
bar customers and they are refusing to give up that. Do they want to
work in other profession where they have more work and relatively
lesser money like that of a household help or a beautician in the
parlors or even in any supermarket as a cleaner or anything else which
do not need any educational qualification or specific skills. Has that
become too difficult for them to find any other respectable job in 8
long years. We cannot ignore the fact that human trafficking is
increased because of Dance bars and prostitution.
Many unwilling
teenage girls are pushed into sex business for money. Dance bars open
the doors for prostitution. This happens
in the darkest hours of the night in the shadow of society without the light of law and ray of Sun. Mr Patil
has taken a bold step to ban Dance bars and was welcomed. But now is
it the time to think on next level, Prostitution? Shall we take a bold
step to legalize prostitution? Legalized and regularized prostitution
can work in favor of society and women involved in the sex
business. Blood test for STDs can be conducted periodically compulsorily. One cannot support to
legalize prostitution and reduce STD infections like AIDS at the same
time. As the women in sex industry are more prone to HIV and likewise
they are able to spread the disease to their multiple partners. But
regular check up and proper counseling to such women can work in favor. We can have some strict rules for the their customers for the
protection to be used. We can have policies on prostitution, brothel
ownership, and pimping so that the women get their fare dues and not the
pimps and brothel owners. There can be ban on brothel and pimps so that call girls can deal with the customers directly to avoid the middle man. As they are trapped in illegal system, they don’t get their dues, the larger part of the income goes to pimps and brothel owners. It can be made legal, as long as it
is limited by fair conditions and terms; a woman's body is HER body and
no one else's, therefore she should be able to do with it what she
pleases and ban pimp and brothels as they consume her income. If prostitution were decriminalized it would be fair to require
that all prostitutes have frequent medical check-ups by sufficient
doctors to prevent the spread of STIs. People forcing women and children
into the trade could be decreased dramatically because the prostitutes
that voluntarily worked could report it to authorities without having to
worry about revealing themselves. Nowadays surrogate mothers are
renting their womb to another couple then why is our society not
accepting prostitution as any other profession. Workers in the sex
industry deserve the same rights as workers in any other trade,
including the right to legal protection from crimes such as sexual
harassment, sexual abuse and rape...There are some unscrupulous people
in all walks of life -government, law, journalism, banking, law
enforcement, the stock exchange, medicine, the clergy, prostitution,
etc. If every profession were criminalized when some of its members
broke the law, there would be few legally sanctioned professions.
Unscrupulous people should be summarily dealt with by the law,
regardless of which profession they corrupt. The illegal and forced
prostitution violates the right to liberty and security, and the
prohibition of slavery, of forced labor and of trafficking in persons
because millions of women and girls all over the world are held in
sexual slavery to meet the demand of even more millions of male buyers
of sex, and to generate profits for the capitalists of sex. Studies show
that prostitutes suffer high level of physical and mental abuse. Woman
are literally sold and bought like property. Prostitution will happen
anyway but legalization and regulation will help stem the abuses. We can
take better care of women’s health and at least they will get their
fare dues and they will not need the curtain of dance bar to hide
behind.
They have to face Violence at every step. Legalization will lead to rehabilitation of their children and prostitutes who has been infected by STDs like HIV. Time is changing and so is India. We have accepted porn start Sunny Leony as a mainstream bollywood actress. Isn't it a time for us to accept prostitutes as a part of our society. Are we ready to give them the respect and dignity they deserve.
This is relatively an older write up. I have written this five-six years back.
My grey cells are overflowing,
so much so that they have started to appear on my head. And it’s
worrying like anything. I mean I am just 22 and I have started to get
grey hairs so soon. One fine day while getting ready for office I
noticed one grey hair. I screamed, hey Bhagawan...nahi…yeh kya ho
gaya(Ekdam Bollywood IShtyle). My roommate Sapana rushed to me
wondering what is making me so sad. I showed her my grey hair which was
spoiling my neatly made office look. She offered to pluck it off. Which I
agreed instantly. I am not married yet and don’t have even a boyfriend,
I am just out of the collage and this injustice to me. Why God? Why?
Sapana was laughing loud and said “Kato, Gholo aur Lagalo” (This is a
famous hair dye add on Indian TV). Hair dye.No…Not so early in my
Lifetime. From this day I started to take advices from my mother and all
aunties,grannies and started to read beauty magazines on How to avoid
grey hairs in early age. Common feedback topping the list was“Tel lagaya
karo”. But I regularly oiled my hairs once a week still I am getting
grey hairs. May be once a week is not enough for my scalp. Now it’s
time to increase the frequency and I started to oil my hairs twice a
week. I used to oil my hairs on Saturday night, leave it overnight and shampoo my hairs on Sunday morning. Now I stared to oil hairs on Tuesday night as well and get a hair wash on Wednesday
before going to office. But Now Wednesdays were getting hectic, had to
get up early in the morning, wash my hair then blow dry so that they
won’t be wet when I go office. But sometimes I got up late and rushed to
Shampoo my hairs which resulted in not taking oil completely out of my
hair and I was left with oily hairs like those yesteryears school boys
having oiled and neatly combed hairs. On top of it I didn’t get time to
wash my hairs till Saturday as I was really busy on Thursday and Friday.
In addition to this sometimes, I didn’t get time to blow dry my hairs
so I was forced to walk into office with wet hairs which will take lot
of time to dry due to AC. Soon after this experience I gave up the idea
to wash hairs biweekly and started to explore better options.
Now
the second most popular advise was “Apply Henna once or twice a
month”. This sounded good to me as I heard Henna also works as a
conditioner for hairs. I applied henna on Saturday.
After washing my hairs were so dry, No matter how tight I tie them,
even the slightest wind will make them come out of the Rubberband and
frizzle over my face and head. This looked like I am carrying birds nest
on my head. Then I was advised to oil my hair after washing henna. I
did so, still situation wasn’t getting better for me. At last I gave up
all the trials and accepted my grey hairs as a sign of maturity and
intelligence(This is how I learned to be positiveJ). Now sometimes I color hairs with my favorite colour or I flaunt my intelligence boldly on my head.
Life is
like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance you have to keep moving!
- Albert Einestein
While
browsing net I came across this true and inspirational quote from this great scientist. I was wondering what exactly Mr. Einestein mean by “Keep
Moving”. We are moving all time, When we are in school we moved to
college, from college to Job. In personal life also we have a girlfriend or
boyfriend we broke and we move on:). We find that right person to spend our life with, get married again we
have moved on. Have beautiful kids and then we are engaged in there upbringing.
If we suffer any personal or career loss we try to forget and move on.We think we are moving on. But is this what Mr. Einestein meant? I thinks
He wants us to move our spirit, to move thoughts, our thinking and stretch our
limits to keep the balance. Balnce between life,work, exercise and hobbies. Which can be achieved by giving away negative
thoughts and move on. Ingnore those who don’t believe in you and move on. Keep
learning. When we grow we stop learning. So don’t grow up just keep moving and
keep learning.
Every moment we are living will be memory after few days or years. We do not realize the worth of a moment till it becomes memory. So many beautiful moments spent in childhood and during school, collage life which were irritating or sometimes bit painful(like completing assignments or workshop jobs) at that particular time are today's beautiful and funny memories. We never realize the zest of Mansoon like getting drenched and shivering in cold till we are placed in Dubai :) where rain is like "Eid ka Chand". When I look back to find the most cherished memories, it takes me to my childhood. I remember having everyday fights with my little brother, trying new recipes shown in "Khana Khazana by Sanjeev Kapoor" on ZEE TV when aai(mom) is not around and messing all kitchen. Getting hot oils Champi by Aai. Granny making my favorite dishes after returning from school. And Baba(papa) cutting and cleaning our nails forthnightly.
Hostel days were the funny days where I lived my life to the fullest. I cannot forget those dances on bollywood songs. Having Maggi and Upama at 2AM. Washing clothes at 3AM. Waxing each others hand and legs. Also I fondly remember the magical days to prepare for campus interview and that restlessness till results are declared.
First day of office is a gem to treasure deep down in heart. We were all new to corporate office culture. First 3 months we had training. We used to address every person entering our training room as 'Sir' or 'Madam'. Today being away from my home country and family sometimes I miss them so terribly that I feel like flying to them. But when I ponder over the point, I feel, I will miss these Dubai days afterwards, so let me enjoy this moment before it becomes a memory. Yes! Yehi hai right choice baby. Ah ha!
Hobbies are so important for one's well being. They not only keep you occupied but also give you a confidence. It is an exclusive time you spend with yourself. We are always busy doing something or other or nothing. Sometimes hobbies become passion and you can get excellence in your hobby taking it beyond. I know people having different hobbies. Sometimes hobbies are periodical, like when I was a kid I had hobby to collect the cricketers photos and game records they have made. But I no longer find it interesting and it’s been couple of decades that I have left that hobby. My brother was having a hobby of colleting small toy cards. He has got nearly 200 cars with him. After we grew up, he gifted those toy cars to our younger cousins. As we grew up things change largely. This is a phase of transformation from a teenager to Adult. We take charge of our own life. Then comes career, marriage, children, etc. We get too busy in our life we totally forget our hobbies. I know many people complaining they don’t get time for hobbies. Is it really the case or simply we are lazy to continue our hobbies. Or are we wasting our time in doing some other time consuming unproductive stuff like watching TV for hours and hours, spending lot of time on FB and twitter. I feel proud to continue my hobbies which
excites me like reading, painting, dancing. I am a working women. Here comes my
typical day, I get up at 6:30, prepare breakfast and lunch Tiffin for me and
husband, pack Tiffin. Get dressed for the office. I reach office at 9 AM and
get back to home at 6PM. I take some time to have a cup of tea then after that
it’s me and by hobbies till 8:30. Either I paint, go for exercise, read, dance
or put an extra effort to prepare and learn some new recipe for dinner. After
8:30 I cook and have dinner by 9:30. At 10 go to sleep. Weekends are also spend
with my hobbies and house hold chores like clearing home, going to glossary
shop and a nice dinner outside or preparing any special recipe at home or
exploring Dubai’s unseen sites or vising or hosting a friend’s party. When my
parents or brother come to visit me. They always question “Why do you need to
be so hard working? Just Chill and Relax.” But that’s how I am. And the fun is
I don’t feel tired. May be that is because I am changing my work and that gives
me a rest. As it is rightly said “Change in work is rest”. And keeping away
from TV and FB has added time for my hobbies for sure.
Human nature is strange. We
always count our happiness relatively. May be this thinking
leads us to desire for more and more. Facebook makers have captured this
thread of our thinking to make money for themselves. First I joined FB
in Sept 2010. Initially it was more of a curiosity as by that time FB was talk of the town, city, country, world. I was uploading my photos, chatting with old friend, but as days passed I was getting
addicted to FB. Soon I realized I was using FB as a platform to peep into others lives.
But here the fun is you can get to know only those things about people which they are willing to share with you. Everybody has ups and down in life. But Everyone is posting happy
thoughts and jolly photos on FB. May it be international vacation or
marriage or weekend outing. But slowly it was dragging away focus from my
own life. Did following others activity helped me anywhere? I think no. I do not have internet on my phone, still I used to spend 20-30 minutes a day on FB. 30 minutes a day
means 15 hours a month which I could have affectively used to learn new
recipe, learn drawing. From Sept 2010 to June 2013 I have tried many
times to be away from FB, I deactivated my profile but the
temptation to be connected ( With whom? and for what? are the questions I ask myself now.) was
restricting me. Finally this time my conviction and my hobbies helped me to keep
myself away from FB. Now it’s been 7 days I have quite FB. Really, life is so
simple without hi fi electronic gadgets and FB. I am not against the electronics gadgets but one should draw boundary on where and when to use them. Believe me that saves lot of time which can be invested in other priority and important stuff like calling a friend instead of chatting on FB or making a nice recipe for dinner or clearing up you home or exercise. I am sure most of you would have also tried to keep away from FB. So Please share you stories of regular attempt to leave FB :).
Now its time to get back to work. But before we take fully on you, its time for us to introspect and plan to cultivate good habits(some of my friends may have resolution). Even I have planned few things for myself, foremost thing is to post at least 12 posts this year(Yeh! I am not good regular blogger, I know,). Then, to reinvent my paintings and drawings(I am not good at this but I love painting and drawing). And I'll always always try to be more positive and look for the good in the possible worst situation. I'll laugh a lot. Will continue to try new recipes. I am going to enjoy the every little thing that comes in my way. I'll be grateful to every little thing i have. ---So many things Really! But I am going to focus on what is good and will let go what is wrong. I'll try to be tougher and happier.
As posted in my previous post 2011 had been fantastic(Ohh... I forgot you are just a day old you might have not read it. After reading this post please read that). I know even 2012 is going to be same or even more exciting. As I am going to meet my parents and my dear most brother. I'll be meeting them in Apr/May of this year. Yes! It would be a long year since i have met them(I miss them A Lot and I am actually counting on days). Visiting Daryapur (my home town) is like reconnecting to life. I have spent all my childhood in Daryapur, my school, my friends, my places, everything is just special. So I am super excited.
Also, I have my first marriage anniversary in 2012. Even that is going to the very very special moment.
Dear 2012, just grow old with me. I promise to give you the best of moments.
स्वप्निल नाविन hair cut केल्या पासुन जरा जास्तच खुश असतो. एवढच नाहि तर त्याने "Dabang" च्या (आणि मला आवडणार्या) सलमान पासुन inspire होउन मिशि देखिल ठेवण्यास सुरवात केलिय. खर तर सलमान मला त्याच्या विनोदी अभिनय शैलीमुले आवडतो. पण मला तो त्याच्या पिलदार शरिरयष्टी आणि six pack abs मुले आवडतो असा स्वाप्निलचा गैरसमज आहे (नवरा आहे ना). परवा तो office साठी तयार होताना अगदी आरस्या समोर शिटी वाजवत त्याचा नविन look enjoy करत होता. मि उगाचच चिडवल, "क्या बात है! जनाब का रन्ग बदला बदला नजर आ रहा है| कुणी सुन्दर colleague join झाली का?" (बायको आहे ना). आणी तो (नेहमिसारखाच) मोठ्याने हासत म्हणाला, अग बर्याच दिवसाऩी hair cut केला आणि जवल जवल ५ वर्षान्नी मिशी ठेवलिय. I am really enjoying, as if I have renewed myself.
खरच किती गरजेच आहे स्वाता:ला reinvent करण. लहाणपणा पासुन आपण मानसीक, शारिरीक रित्या वाढत असतो. रोज काहितरि नविन शिकत असतो. पण आपण मोठे होतो. आपल्या कामात खुपच busy होतो. अस वाटत आता काय शिकायच. हे काय वय आहे. आणि वेल पण नाही. मग आपले कामच आपली ओलख बनुन जाते. "नमस्कार, मि शरद Infosys मध्ये manager आहे". मग असे लोक retired झाल्यावर बर्याचदा नैराश्येच्या गर्तेत जातात. पण जर मि माझ्या ओलखिने समाधानी असेल तर...तर असा विचार करुन तुम्हि स्वत:च्या सुप्त गुणाची वाट अडवत तर नाही ना? कामाच्या व्यापात मागे राहिलेला एखादा छन्द परत जोपासा. तुम्ही दुसर्या शहरात गेल्यामुले, सध्या contact मधे नसलेल्या एखाद्या मित्राला फोन करा.
या renewal साठी फार काही करण्याची गरज नाही. अगदीच साधे म्हणजे तुमची dressing style बदलून बघा. तेच तेच फिके रन्ग वापरुन विट आला असेल तर थोडे भडक shades try करा. Jeans आणि पन्जाबी dress घालुन थकल्या असाल तर छानसा skirt किन्वा साडी परिधान करा.
मि तर मला reinvent केल आहे. तुम्ही recently अस काही केलय किन्वा करण्याचा plan आहे? मला जाणुन घ्यायला नक्कीच आवडेल. मला कलवा तुमाच्या self reinvention or self renewal बद्दल, मग मि देखिल माझ्यात काय reinvent केलय ते कलवेल.
Life can’t see you content. I and Naina met in college. Today we are happily married for 10 years. We become friends in first year, and then gradually we accepted each other as Life partners by the end of Second year of our college. We belonged to the different casts, so convincing parents was the toughest job. Before ten years, marrying guy from different cast was not a joke for a middle class Marathi girl. But Naina was truly committed to me. After convincing her parents for couple of years we got married. We were so Happy. I thought we are 100% happy and content. I don’t need anything else now. But as the days turned into months and months turned into years, we wanted to be parent. After 10 years we didnt have any issue. We, especially Naina feels strongly that we should get a chance to raise a child.
One fine evening, Naina came to me, rested her head on my shoulder. Few moments passed in silent. She said, Suresh “I want to be a mother”. I was not surprised to hear this as even I wanted to be a father. Naina, shall we go for medical check-up and find a way out of it. Naina looked to be in deep thought. I said again, “Are you listening me?, These days, medical science has solution for our problem. I’ll take doctor’s appointment today itself”. Listen Suresh, “I love you and you love me, we have accepted each other as we are. So what’s the point in going to doctor and finding if there is something lacking in you or me. Anyways your parents think something lacking in me and tease me. And my parents think it’s wrong with you. So, why make it an issue. Is it necessary that we should have our own child only? Can’t we adopt a child?” Now I constantly looked at her. She talked a sense. But I asked her for some time to think on it. I knew our both families will not agree on it as they wanted us to go doctor and get a medical solution to this problem.
After couple days, I told her that I like her idea of adopting a child. She was overjoyed and said, “Hey! Thank You! I have everything in my mind. We will adopt a girl child.” A girl child! I was ok with it. We both sat together and decided to adopt a girl child who is ugly. Yes! You read it right, We wanted to adopt an ugly child. An ugly child whom no one else would have adopted. Also we wanted child to be grown enough to know that we are not the biological parents of her. Next day only we both conveyed our decision to our respective families. In next couple of days we visited an orphanage. There, we like one girl. A six year old girl, she was black with no attractive features. The one no one will prefer to adopt. We decided to adopt her. Her name in Orphanage was “Gayatri”. We decided to accept her with her name.
Gayatri came to stay with us. Naina and I welcomed her with lots of gifts like clothes, toys, books,etc. Also, I admitted her to a school near to our place. Now, Naina was in dilemma, to retain the job or quite it. I advised her to keep her job for couple of months, see how our repot with Gayatri goes and then we can decide upon it. Gayatri was one of the most well behaved child I have ever seen. She used to pack her bags, Tiffin, water-bag herself. She used to clean her room herself. She looked somewhat introvert, she will hardly come out of her room and connect to us. But this is where it was not possible for Naina to get along with her. She used to call us Mummy and Papa. Naina wanted to be called as “Aai”. As I used to drop and pick up her to school she started to be friendly with me. But even after four months situation couldn’t change for Naina.
After Gayatri’s term ended, We decided to spend some time in Naina’s parents town. It was the tiny, beautiful village situated at the Satpuda hills in central India. We went there for 8 days. Away from city and pollution, it was very peaceful. This is the place where Naina was born and brought up. She has her special memories here. Coinsidently, there was a fair in a village nearby. Such a fair is called as Jatra. We decided to go for it. Naina couldn’t stop to remember the memories of her childhood related to Jatra. When we reached there the scene was awesome. A beautiful temple situated at river side. Thousands of people were bathing. Ladies were busy cooking food in huts. Other entertainment like joy rides were also available. There were lots of Feriwalas selling various toys and food items. As we were wondering through Jatra, a red watermelon stall captured Naina’s attention. She almost rushed to the stall and asked Bhaiya for one piece. Shortly Gayatri ran behind her ordered one for her as well. Naina and Gayatri both were excited to test sweet and red watermelons. Naina Started to tell Gayatri that when she she was of her age she used to eat dozens of watermelon pieces in this Jatra. And order one each for them . Now, Naina and Gayatri couldn’t notice when the watermelon juice stared rolled down from their fingers to arms and from mouth to neck. They were enjoying like both are 6 years old and were constantly teasing each other for the red mouth. After having 5-6 pieces each and when both were enough tired. Naina told “Come Gayatri, we will clean ourself in river”. Naina took her to the river. She cleaned her mouth and hands. But Gayatri was waiting outside. Gayatri said “I am afraid of water”. Naina hold her, took her inside and bowed down to clean Gayatri’s face. In a fraction os seconds, Gayatri kissed Naina with her red mouth and ran shouting “Aai, tuze pan gaal laal zale”. Even Naina was running behind her like a child to catch her. I was really content to see the bonding has stared and hear that Gayatri called Naina as “AAI”.
